CN1697772B

CN1697772B - Elevator wireless communication infrastructure using piconet modules

Info

Publication number: CN1697772B
Application number: CN02829761XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: L·贝斯拉; D·C·哈斯; A·贝斯拉; B·泽普克; C·M·内特尔; P·A·斯图基; A·韦基奥蒂; W·A·韦罗内斯
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Current assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Priority date: 2002-10-15
Filing date: 2002-10-15
Publication date: 2010-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-15
Also published as: CN1697772A; US7426981B2; AU2002343514A8; HK1085187A1; US20060108181A1; JP2006502932A; WO2004035449A1; AU2002343514A1

Abstract

An elevator system has on each floor hall call buttons that are interconnected with piconet module, such as modules conforming to BLUETOOTH>TM<specifications; similar piconet modules may be associated with hall fixtures such as lanterns and gongs; similar piconet modules may be associated with hoistway doors, on each floor, so as to form a wireless communication system with a similar piconet module at the controller; and a piconet module may be associated with the car operating panel. A module may be interconnected with the car door lock switch; a module may be interconnected with a safety switch; modules and may be interconnected with lower and upper limit switches; and a module may be interconnected with an overspeed detector, so as to form a safety chain. A prospective passenger may carry a portable device with a piconet module to request elevator service and receive acknowledgement, and maintenance personnel may use a personal ditigal assistant having a piconet module therein to acquire current and historical information about the elevator and to issue executable commands to the elevator system.

Description

Use the elevator wireless communication system of piconet modules

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of elevator device; its middle controller and the fixed equipment that comprises the hall; communication between each hardware element of the elevator device of the operating panel of safety guard and elevator passenger cabin; undertaken by individual domain network (piconet) module that has at the transceiver of 2.4G band operation, this transceiver automatically set up with system in other the compatible modules inner module network that is linked.

Background technology

Radio communication in the elevator device is well-known.To a great extent, this system relates to does not need to use hand, but calls out in beginning elevator service outside elevator entrance.Such as US Patent 4,979,594; 4,709,788; With 5,984,051.In these systems, RF device and some are interconnected to particular transceiver interaction on the hardware unit with electric wire.This needs from the agreement and the addressing scheme that limit.A fault of any specific transceiver all can be interrupted connection that this transceiver sets up so that keeped in repair.Change with equipment of different addresses need reprogram system.Sometimes in very large range to deacclimatize the new address of new installation or alternate device.The elevator device that other utilize radio communication comprises the handle operation signal, in US Patent 4,979,593; With 5,601,156 is disclosed.US Patent 5,817 has disclosed a kind of wireless maintenance instrument in 994, is defined for elevator is risen or to descend and a kind of wireless receiver, can be connected on the elevator car guidance panel by the staff when needs use it.This class device up to this point exists the problem relevant with wireless system.

In the U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 09/899,400 that is set forth in July 5 calendar year 2001, disclosed a unlimited snubber chain.In this system, basic design be rigidity and exist those problems mentioned above.Any system that comprises first source wave frequency identification apparatus all needs with transceiver approaching in the extreme, and these transceivers are not only to be connected with them, and will provide operation power for them.

Summary of the invention

Purpose of the present invention comprises the regulation for the Communication System for Elevator with radio communication: because constitute the feature of the module of Communication System for Elevator, when at first setting up communication system, this communication system is easy to support to redefine for system, add or when changing required condition such as address, when in communication system self, changing, automatically set up communication between the functional component that any two that this Communication System for Elevator can be in elevator device or a plurality of and described module link to each other; When other hardware was changed, this communication system avoided making the continuous hardware configuration of disparate modules of this communication system to change; This communication system does not rely on being used between a module and the ensuing module and sets up the specific rigid relation of the communication from any one specified point to any one other specified point, but opposite, can not need any single intermediate module of the system that relies on and set up communication at this point-to-point transmission; This communication system is the system of a flawless self-regeneration, and this system can not need artificial the intervention automatically to set up, and has the interchangeable path that is used for finishing communication between any specified point of system; And wherein any compatible elements can be changed, and adds, and perhaps utilizes, and does not need to redefine any system parameter or agreement, comprises the address, preceence, synchronously, and control relation.

This invention is based upon in such enforcement on the one hand: Communication System for Elevator should not rely on any signal medium line or any single intermediary transceiver to influence necessity communication of all elevator functions, be based upon on the other hand on such understanding: the wireless communication system of the access to elevators that is found everywhere is used to communicate by letter to the request of service with to the response of this request, and service data and control, and security information, and permit maintenance inquiries into elevator history, situation and parameter status information, and the attendant's that elevator is controlled who is caused instruction.

The present invention proposes the elevator device that uses in a kind of a plurality of floors in building, comprising: at least one the hall equipment on each described floor; And controller; It is characterized in that, on one of each described floor at least one first piconet modules, at least one described first piconet modules links to each other with at least one described hall equipment on described respective storey, so that send and the control signal relevant that receives elevator device with operation, described first piconet modules forms individual domain network mutually, thereby, transmit thereby wherein can be received by other people territory mixed-media network modules mixed-media in described first piconet modules by any one transmission carried out in described first piconet modules as the communication system of floor gap; And second piconet modules that links to each other with described controller, described controller communicates by the described second coupled piconet modules and other piconet modules in described first piconet modules thus, direct communication or also by another or a plurality of communicating in described first piconet modules, the control signal relevant with operation of described elevator device will communicate between described first piconet modules on one of described floor and described second piconet modules thus, and wherein said first piconet modules is arranged to not influence the communication of floor gap when any one first piconet modules lost efficacy.

According to the present invention, be used in this term " piconet modules of qualification ", be abbreviated as at this paper sometimes " piconet modules ", be a kind of a kind of module that comprises transceiver and have following feature:

---in the scope of transmission each other, the automatic foundation of this module is connected with any similar module;

---this module be determined to other module self (address);

---this module will receive information and this information will be forwarded to other modules;

---can be synchronously or send information asynchronously;

---set up casual network with one or more compatible modules;

---low power, in short range (, being 10 meters or 100 meters for example) radio wave transmissions of 2.4GHz and/or 5.8GHz frequency band according to selected module release;

---without any appointment, special-purpose " primary module ";

---any module can both start the role who transmits and bear " primary module ", and also can response pass and the role that bears " slave module " come; Also can consult primary module/from the relation of module;

---being connected when distance between them surpasses their scope of intercommunication mutually between described module and other modules can be closed;

---one or more different low energy consumption operation modes, such as " dormancy " and " standby ", save practical power;

---point-to-pointly be connected with point-to-multipoint; With

---spread spectrum.

According to this invention, the functional component of elevator device is independently of one another or with the form of group, be connected with corresponding piconet modules as previously mentioned, described piconet modules has constituted individual domain network with other piconet modules, make the communication between any two functional components in the elevator device automatically jointlessly carry out, the reliability of simultaneity factor is very high, has exceeded the communication that can obtain in the prior art.The casual network that " Piconet " is made up of the piconet modules of two or more automatic engagements.According to the present invention, the controller of piconet modules and elevator is connected with independent hall call buttons or double-type hall call buttons.Piconet modules also can with the fixed equipment in hall signal lamp (lantern) and gong (place of using) such as the hall, with safety switch and other safety apparatus, with be connected with the elevator car guidance panel, make to start, transmit and receive all and communicate by letter by piconet modules as previously mentioned.According to this invention, the piconet modules in piconet modules in the passengers' remote control and the portable maintenance controller communicates by the piconet modules in the elevator device.

Piconet modules can be selected in meeting the obtainable product of bluetooth specification, similarly be to propose at www.BLUETOOTH.ORG, perhaps self-definition design is to have the feature of saying previously, these features can with or do not conform to fully with bluetooth specification.Known to us, bluetooth compatible devices comprises and is built into a radio receiver in the little integrated circuit, and it operates in a 2.4GHz frequency band that the whole world is available, thereby guarantees the communication compatibility in worldwide.

But the useful optional characteristic module that need not use in invention comprises:

---the adaptive transmitter supply (scope) that is used to economize on electricity, guarantee that close not dominant (busy) more weak emitter or adaptive power supply can finish by software, for example the software in controller.

---synchronously with the ability of (the allowing audio communication) bandwidth communication that keeps; With

---by the safety of avoiding undelegated intervention elevator operation of encrypting and/or the method for authentication obtains.

Other purposes of the present invention, feature and advantage will be below become very clear with reference to accompanying drawing to the detailed description of embodiment.

Illustrate

Fig. 1 is the simple front elevation commonly used that a joint has access to elevators of the present invention and machine chamber; With

Fig. 2 engages the simple front elevation commonly used that elevator car of the present invention is arranged.

The specific embodiment

With reference to Fig. 1, the access to elevators 11 of elevator device comprises a plurality of landings 12 and machine bed plate 13.At each landing 12 place, all have the up hall call buttons or the conventional descending hall call buttons (not shown) or the both of a routine to have, each single hall call buttons all is connected with the piconet modules 15 of a relevant qualification with every pair of hall call buttons.On every layer of platform 12, the fixed equipment in the hall in the place that needs use such as signal lamp and gong, can pass through the module 15 of this layer and communicate by letter and Be Controlled with wiring wherein.On the other hand, that any one fixed equipment or both can have themselves or share a similar piconet modules 16, if in any application of the present invention, expect.In machine chamber 17 (the perhaps any appropriate location in access to elevators 11), a controller 18 is connected with the piconet modules 19 that has limited.An importance of the present invention is that each module 15 can participate in the individual domain network of one or more add-on

modules

15,16,19, and with comprise

module

15,16, other individual domain network of 19 forms interim both scatternets.Use this method, at any floor or landing 12, in the scope of any

module

15,16 around the access to elevators 11 on 13, other similar and compatible piconet modules that limited can be communicated by letter with each other floor of access to elevators or landing and controller.

Illustrated a key character of this invention among Fig. 2.Wherein, an elevator car 31 has a forechoir guidance panel 32, comprises a plurality of conventional hall call buttons 34 on the panel, door open button 35 and an emergency braking switch 37.This forechoir guidance panel communicates by a piconet modules that has limited 40.In some buildings, according to the version of the piconet modules that limits, when elevator car 31 during in access to elevators 11 bottoms, transceiver 40 can be just outside the sphere of action of the transceiver 19 that controller 18 (Fig. 1) is located.Therefore can utilize the wireless instantaneous connection of the intermodule within range of each other of various unanimities.When elevator car 31 during near the lower end of access to elevators, module 40 will and be between in the plurality of modules 16 of access to elevators lower end some at it and connect, thereby will make communication by the plurality of modules 15 of individual domain network via last layer, 16 are upwards transmitted, the module 19 up to controller 18 places.When not setting up individual domain network by

module

15,16, the transceiver of module 40 will be set up with other conventional transceivers by the agreement of a rigidity and communicate by letter.

Except handling communication from forechoir guidance panel 32, order that module 40 can also receive and execution is opened the door and closed the door and other standing orders that some are performed in elevator car 31.

Another advantage of the individual domain network of setting up with the module on building every layer is to have seamless elevator safety chain.In elevator 31, a module that links to each other with opening or closing of elevator door lock 43 is arranged, this opening or closing of elevator door lock must be locked by show gate, or so snubber chain damages and elevator is prevented from moving.When same, as to link to each other with master cock on elevator block hatchcover module 44, demonstration place personnel are in the dangerous position of relative this elevator, so must stop elevator to move.

Module

43 and 44 individual domain networks that will be set up by the module on each

floor

15,16 are communicated by letter with the module 19 on the controller 18.Use similar form, other elements in the snubber chain as shown in fig. 1, can comprise bound switch (not shown), and each can link to each other with corresponding module 47,48.In many devices, module 48 is outside the scope of module 19, but the individual domain network that can rely on the

module

15,16 on the different floors to be set up communicates with automatically.Snubber chain will comprise a hypervelocity detector (not shown) with continuous module 49, and will comprise a plurality of access to elevators door locks (for showing), and each door lock has the module 50 that is attached thereto.Module 50 can with

module

15 or 16 and they form individual domain network to each other: promptly, the access to elevators communication system can comprise the connection of

module

15,16, or the connection of module 50, perhaps comprises the connection that they are all.

According to an aspect of this invention, have the prospective passenger 53 of the remote control equipment (RCE) that is comprising the piconet modules 54 that has limited, enter

module

15,16 in module 54, in the time of in one of 50 the scope, will make elevator import an elevator service request for her automatically.As previously described, module 54 will make remote control equipment (RCE) and elevator device and building system database synchronization automatically.Communication comprises personnel's identification, her common bed of interest, and the position that she is current, such as, ground floor, and if relate to, she enters safe condition.No matter passenger 53 is carrying remote control equipment (RCE) to which within the module scope, module 54 all will with

module

15,16, automatically set up casual network for minimum one in 48 or 50, this casual network is by

other module

15,16 then, 50 join in the network, make to communicate by letter with the module 19 at controller 18 places.Module 54 also will receive the affirmation to received services request.

The present invention also allows service personnel 57 to use the personal digital assistant (PDA) who has module 58 to set up the interim RF network with access to elevators communication infrastructure.Such PDA is passable, for example, comprises the portable computer of any permission bluetooth.Module 58 in PDA is in

module

15,16, in the time of in one of 19,50 the scope, produces a casual network, by module 19 attendant 57 and controller 18 is got in touch.The attendant immediately can investigating system in the state or the numerical value of different parameters, the perhaps historical maintenance record of system, thereby send executable order to system, go to corresponding floor such as the request elevator, the attendant can reconfigure elevator device, particularly whenever with owing to replaced any hardware cell thereby necessary new address is configured, or the like.

Module 58 among the PDA can be sent an information and become primary module.Module 58 also can be carried out point-to-point connection, and for example the

module

15,16,50 with same floor connects, and the connection of perhaps setting up a point-to-multipoint for example is connected to the

module

15,16,50 of different floors from module 58.According to the version of piconet modules specification (distance between blue-tooth device should between 10 to 100 meters), individual domain network may be strict: for 10 meters version, except top any other floor, the module 58 among the PDA all can be in outside the scope of module 19 at controller 18 places.Therefore, communication must be established from the one or

more modules

15,16,50 the floor on PDA module 58 to the PDA modules 58 place floors, and the module 19 at

final module

15,16,50 and controller 18 places connects.For 100 meters version,, be necessary for building with the floor more than eight layers from such connection of module to module.Similar, when a

module

15,16,50 of module 54 and lowermost layer connects, for to controller 18 passing service requests (stop call intent ground), a

module

15,16,50 of lowermost layer will send information on this module and be in those modules 15 in the scope, 16,50, be delivered to the module on described two modules then, write down this calling thereby produce a serial network with the module 19 that arrives controller 18.Similarly, also will send the floor of calling so that arrive to the affirmation of the calling that comes self-controller 18 by several modules.

The communication system of a floor gap can be by being made up of people territory mixed-media network modules mixed-media one by one on every layer as can be seen.Therefore, those and call button, perhaps signal lamp, perhaps gong, perhaps, and 3 modules of shown each layer soil, perhaps a module linking to each other of all Room equipment with on this layer of every layer can constitute this communication system; " hall equipment " is defined as comprising hall call buttons, signal lamp, and gong or access to elevators door switch are perhaps with their any combination.

Claims

1. the elevator device that uses in a plurality of floors (12) in building comprises:

At least one hall equipment on each described floor; And

Controller (18);

It is characterized in that,

On one of each described floor at least one first piconet modules (15,16), at least one described first piconet modules links to each other with at least one described hall equipment on described respective storey, so that send and the control signal relevant that receives elevator device with operation, described first piconet modules forms individual domain network mutually, thereby, transmit thereby wherein can be received by other piconet modules in described first piconet modules by any one transmission carried out in described first piconet modules as the communication system of floor gap; And

Second piconet modules (19) that links to each other with described controller, described controller communicates by the described second coupled piconet modules and other piconet modules in described first piconet modules thus, direct communication or also by another or a plurality of communicating in described first piconet modules, the control signal relevant with operation of described elevator device will communicate between described first piconet modules on one of described floor and described second piconet modules thus, and wherein said first piconet modules is arranged to not influence the communication of floor gap when any one first piconet modules lost efficacy.

2. according to the system in the claim 1, further comprise:

A kind of the 3rd piconet modules (58) and the personal digital assistant who comprises relevant maintenance program (PDA) of having, make that the user can be by the information of elevator device acquisition about elevator device, can send executable command to elevator device, and can reconfigure elevator device.

3. according to the system in the claim 1, further comprise:

At least one has the 4th piconet modules (54) and disposes the remote control equipment (RCE) of the communication that is used for the elevator service request.

4. according to the system in the claim 3, wherein said remote control equipment (RCE) is configured to receive the affirmation for receiving services request.

5. according to the system in the claim 1, further comprise:

A plurality of safety devices, each all with the 5th relevant piconet modules (43,44,47,48-50) link to each other, described safety device comprises snubber chain with the 5th relevant piconet modules, and described the 5th relevant piconet modules and described first and second piconet modules form individual domain network, and and described first and second piconet modules together as the communication system of described floor gap.

6. according to the system in the claim 1, further comprise:

A plurality of hoistway doors, at least one every layer, the door switch that links to each other with each described door, the 6th piconet modules (50) that links to each other with described each described door switch, form individual domain network with described first and second piconet modules, and and described first and second piconet modules as the communication system of floor gap.

7. according to the system in the claim 1, further comprise:

The elevator car (31) that has forechoir guidance panel (32), this panel has at least one coupled the 7th piconet modules (40), the 7th piconet modules and described first and second piconet modules together form individual domain network, and and described first and second piconet modules together as the communication system of floor gap.

8. according to the system in the claim 1, further comprise:

Have at least one forechoir door, elevator car (31) with the 8th piconet modules (43) that links to each other with at least one described forechoir door, the 8th piconet modules and described first and second piconet modules together form individual domain network, and with the communication system of described first and second piconet modules as floor gap.

9. according to the system in the claim 1 wherein

Have one first piconet modules (15,16,50) in described floor each, each first piconet modules all with described floor in one or more hall call buttons link to each other with the access to elevators door switch.

10. according to the system in the claim 9, further comprise:

A kind of gong;

Wherein said first piconet modules (15,16,50) links to each other with described gong.

11. the system according in the claim 9 further comprises:

One or more signal lamps; And

Described one or more signal lamp and described first piconet modules (15,16,50) link to each other.